Variable optic ophthalmic device including liquid crystal elements

Abstract

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a variable optic insert into an ophthalmic lens. An energy source is capable of powering the variable optic insert included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast-molded from a silicone hydrogel. The various ophthalmic lens entities may include electroactive liquid crystal layers to electrically control refractive characteristics.

1 . An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:
 a curved front surface and a curved back surface, wherein the front surface and the back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of one chamber;   an energy source embedded in the variable optic insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone; and   a single layer of aligned liquid crystal material, wherein the single layer of aligned liquid crystal material interacts strongly with a first polarization orientation of incident light and not with a second polarization orientation of incident light, wherein the first polarization orientation of incident light is orthogonal to the second polarization orientation of incident light; and wherein a differential interaction of the single layer with the first polarization orientation of incident light forms a first focal characteristic different from a second focal characteristic determined by interaction of the single layer with the second polarization orientation of incident light.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first polarization orientation is linearly polarized. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 2 , wherein a source of the first polarization orientation of incident light emits light in a linearly polarized fashion. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 3 , wherein the lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first layer of electrode material proximate to the curved back surface; and   a second layer of electrode material proximate to the curved front surface.   
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material. 
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 6  wherein an application of electrical potential across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material alters the first focal characteristic of the lens. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 7  further comprises an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor. 
     
     
         10 . An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:
 a curved first front surface and a curved first back surface wherein the first front surface and the first back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of a first chamber;   a curved second front surface and a curved second back surface wherein the second front surface and the second back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of a second chamber;   at least a first layer of aligned liquid crystal material, wherein the first layer of aligned liquid crystal material interacts strongly with a first polarization orientation of incident light and not with a second polarization orientation of incident light, wherein the first polarization orientation of incident light is orthogonal to the second polarization orientation of incident light; and wherein a differential interaction of the first layer of aligned liquid crystal material with the first polarization orientation of incident light forms a first focal characteristic different from a second focal characteristic determined by interaction of the first layer of aligned liquid crystal material with the second polarization orientation of incident light; and   an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone.   
     
     
         11 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first polarization orientation is linearly polarized. 
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 10 , wherein a source of the first polarization orientation of incident light emits light in a linearly polarized fashion. 
     
     
         13 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 12 , wherein the lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         14 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first layer of electrode material proximate to the first curved back surface; and   a second layer of electrode material proximate to the curved first front surface.   
     
     
         15 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 14 , wherein the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material. 
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 15 , wherein an application of electrical potential across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material alters the first focal characteristic of the lens. 
     
     
         17 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 16 , further comprises an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers. 
     
     
         18 . The ophthalmic lens device according to  claim 17  wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor. 
     
     
         19 . A contact lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the contact lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:
 a single layer of aligned liquid crystal material, wherein the single layer of aligned liquid crystal material interacts strongly with a first polarization orientation of incident light and not with a second polarization orientation of incident light, wherein the first polarization orientation of incident light is orthogonal to the second polarization orientation of incident light; and wherein a differential interaction of the single layer with the first polarization orientation of incident light forms a first focal characteristic different from a second focal characteristic determined by interaction of the single layer with the second polarization orientation of incident light; and   wherein at least a first surface of the single layer containing liquid crystal material is curved.   
     
     
         20 . An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:
 an insert front curve piece and an insert back curve piece, wherein a back surface of the front curve piece has a first curvature and a front surface of the back curve piece has a second curvature;   an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone; and   a layer of aligned liquid crystal material, wherein the layer of aligned liquid crystal material interacts strongly with a first polarization orientation of incident light and not with a second polarization orientation of incident light, wherein the first polarization orientation of incident light is orthogonal to the second polarization orientation of incident light; and wherein a differential interaction of the layer of aligned liquid crystal material with the first polarization orientation of incident light forms a first focal characteristic different from a second focal characteristic determined by interaction of the layer of aligned liquid crystal material with the second polarization orientation of incident light.   
     
     
         21 . An energized ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert comprising:
 the variable optic insert comprising at least a portion within an optical zone and comprising an insert front curve piece and an insert back curve piece, wherein a back surface of the front curve piece and a front surface of the back curve piece have differing surface topology at least in the portion within the optical zone;   an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone; and   the variable optic insert comprising a single layer of aligned liquid crystal material, wherein the single layer of aligned liquid crystal material interacts strongly with a first polarization orientation of incident light and not with a second polarization orientation of incident light, wherein the first polarization orientation of incident light is orthogonal to the second polarization orientation of incident light; and wherein a differential interaction of the single layer with the first polarization orientation of incident light forms a first focal characteristic different from a second focal characteristic determined by interaction of the single layer with the second polarization orientation of incident light.